A former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello,
on December 13, 2024, apologized to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High
Court, Maitama, Abuja, for failing to appear in court for his trial.
Bello, through his counsel, J.B. Daudu SAN, expressed
regret for any perceived disrespect toward the court. “My lord, I am
apologizing on behalf of the defendant for any perceived disrespect toward the
court in the past,” he said.
Addressing the court, the defence counsel
clarified that the defendant’s earlier actions were not intended as
contempt. “For the record, my lord, I wish to apologize for any impression that
the defendant refused to appear before your Lordship. He directed his former
counsel to challenge the court’s jurisdiction, which led the matter up to the
Supreme Court. This was not an act of disrespect but a procedural move,” he
said
Continuing, he stressed that, “The defendant, a
two-term governor of Kogi State, holds the court in the highest regard. I
assure this honourable court that he will appear for trial on all adjourned
dates, barring sickness or death.”
Bello is facing a 19-count charge bordering on
criminal breach of trust and money laundering, contrary to Section 18(a) and
punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011
(as amended).
One of the charges read: “That you, Yahaya Adoza
Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large),
sometime in February 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of
?80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four
Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-Nine Naira, Eighty-Eight Kobo), which
sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your
unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust, thereby committing an
offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the
Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.”
Other charges include alleged fraudulent transactions
involving billions of naira and foreign currency, carried out between 2016 and
2023 through various companies. Bello pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Daudu sought bail for his client, applauding the
understanding of the prosecution. “I must express profound respect for my
learned silk for the prosecution, Dr. Kemi Pinheiro SAN. He shared a soft copy
of the counter-affidavit before today’s proceedings, and we agreed to avoid
unnecessary arguments. We urge the court to grant bail on reasonable terms and
conditions,” he said.
Responding, Pinheiro praised the defence counsel’s
professionalism. “I must acknowledge the integrity of J.B. Daudu SAN. We have
worked to streamline the proceedings and reduce the burden on your Lordship.
The EFCC is a professional, not a persecutorial body. However, the
decision to grant bail and its conditions are entirely at the court’s
discretion,”he said.
Pinheiro also noted the defendant’s apology, adding,
“Let it be on record that the defendant has apologized through his counsel.”
Justice Nwite, while delivering his ruling, emphasized
his independence. “Neither party will guide me on what to do. However, given
the assurances by J.B. Daudu SAN, I am inclined to grant bail. But for
these assurances, my ruling might have been otherwise,” the judge stated.
The court granted Bello bail in the sum of ?500
million, with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must own properties within
the court’s jurisdiction. Bello is also required to deposit his international
passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, submit recent passport
photographs, and swear an affidavit of means.
Until the bail conditions are met, Justice Nwite
ordered that Bello be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kuje and
adjourned the trial to February 24 and 28, as well as March 6 and 7, 2025, for
continuation.
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